If you’re planning to travel to Cancun, but somehow get stuck while planning the best itinerary, then wipe off that forehead scrunch you’ve got and worry no more. We, at Cancun Vacation Experts, are here to help you plan the most perfect itinerary where you can experience every corner of this tropical paradise. This blog includes the beautiful Cancun beaches, the infamous Hotel Zone, and Isla tours.
Before we head on to the itinerary, it’s important to be prepared with a packing list. We’ve got that area covered as well. Keep reading to discover a fun-packed trip to Cancun, the gem of Mexico.
What Does Cancun Have In Store For You?
Cancun is located on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and is a tropical heaven. It’s known for its versatility over a wide range of beach resorts, water activities, party places, and of course, the beaches and the beauty of nature.
We at Cancun Vacation Experts will make sure that a little of everything is added in your vacation itinerary, so that you experience the greatness of Cancun no matter how many days you have in hand. Before we move to the itinerary, let’s do some pre-planning so you don’t end up in a crisis in the middle of Cancun.
What To Pack For Your Trip?
You can use the following section as a checklist if you are someone who gets paranoid at the last minute. We have mentioned some of the things you wouldn’t want to forget on your trip to Mexico.
Documents to Pack
You don’t want to end up stranded anywhere in Mexico because you forgot your identification. The most important item to tick before any vacation is all your important documents which would include the following:
- A Valid Passport: Make sure your passport has at least a 6 month validity left to rule out any risks of being detained.
- A Valid Government ID: Make sure you carry your government ID with photographic proof while travelling. Carrying both a soft copy and a hard copy is advisable.
- Travel Documents and Your Cancun Itinerary: You definitely need to carry all your booked tickets and your itinerary along with any booking confirmations you may have received.
- Travel Insurance: Make sure you carry a copy of your travelling insurance if you hold one.
- Translator App: Make sure you have a translator app so commuting around Cancun becomes easier.
- Sufficient Cash: In case online payments are down or if your bank server is down, you might end up being stranded if you don’t have sufficient cash with you.
- Vaccination Research: It’s always good to research what you might be allergic to and get preventative medicine for anything related so you can have a joyful vacay.
Personal Essentials
- Sunscreen: Make sure to pack your sunscreen or you might end up getting a bit toasted in the Cancun heat.
- Bug Spray: Mexico has bugs because of its tropical and humid climate. Make sure you carry sufficient bug repellents to avoid the itching havoc bugs may cause.
- Swimsuits: Cancun has beautiful beaches and is actually known for its serene water. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the fun because you forgot your swimsuit.
- Suitable Footwear: People often opt for flip flops or sandals in Cancun because its the most comfortable in the heat.
- Hand Sanitizer and Sanitary Essentials: Make sure you carry your wipes and sanitizer to prevent sickness or the flu.
How Many Days In Cancun Are Enough ?
You might be worrying about how many days in Cancun would be enough. The most important thing to understand is that you will have to plan your days accordingly to accommodate for the time you have.
We have curated a perfect 5 Day Itinerary for Cancun and if you have 2 days extra, we’ve added a 2 day bonus itinerary just for you. Keep reading to find out all the exciting places you can visit and forget the chaos of the cities.
Your 5 Day Cancun Itinerary
Get your party gear on because we’ve created the most fun and adventurous 5 days for you. From Beaches to the ruins, we’ve made sure to help you witness each extreme of Cancun.
Day 1: Resort Exploring and Beaches
If you’re truly in for the experience, then we advise you to stay at a beach facing resort so you can experience the calm and serenity of the waters while enjoying the luxury of a resort. This would be the perfect example of true bliss.
The Hotel Zone is renowned for its variety of luxury hotels, party spots, and the infamous Cancun beaches. If you walk down this zone which is also known as Boulevard Kukulcán, you will certainly find so many good resorts that it might be hard to choose. It would be best to make your bookings before your trip so you don’t waste time choosing a hotel.
If you choose a hotel near the Playa Delfines or Playa Tortugas beaches of Cancun, then take an afternoon stroll to the beach and enjoy a nice sunbath on the white stretch of sand. It cannot be said enough times – the water of Cancun is heavenly. Having a swim with the sun rays shining through the clear water should be at the top of your priority list.
After getting a nice tan, hopefully without getting burnt, you could head for a nice sunset cruise and then dinner. We at Cancun Vacation Experts help you with night dinner tours so you could add them immediately to your Cancun Itinerary. If you’re with a special someone, a romantic dinner on a cruise with our dinner cruise options. This is only the first on the list of things to do in Cancun for couples.
Day 2: Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy
On Day 2, you could head down to Isla Mujeres. It is an island just off the coast of Cancun with beautiful beaches. You can easily enjoy the waves while having a sip of the cold margaritas. The beaches are decorated with gorgeous stretches of white sand and crystal clear water. You can definitely rent a golf cart and explore other parts of the island. You can lie down on Playa Nortes, one of the more renowned beaches on Isla Mujeres.
Isla Mujeres is known for its shopping markets located downtown. You can take a stroll on the colorful streets of the islands and enjoy the warm and welcoming nature of the locals. There are plenty of street art and craft shops you can explore and take some pieces back home as well.
Isla Mujeres actually means, “The Island of Women”, and the name is rumored to be sourced from the goddess Ixchel. There is a Mayan temple you can visit which was built to worship her as the goddess of fertility.
After having a calm walk in the streets of Isla Mujeres, you can head to Isla Contoy, which is a nationally protected park. You can take a sunset cruise on the waters and enjoy the view of the beautiful birds that the island is home to. You can find over 150 species of birds including beautiful frigates and pelicans. The tropical surroundings of Isla Contoy are definitely worth the cruise. If the timing is right, you could ask the local guide to help you spot some dolphins in the clear water.
You can minimise the planning with us by taking our exclusive Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy Day Tour. After a long day of travelling, you could travel back to your resort and get ready to unwind. Your next item on the to-do list by heading to Coco Bongo. This is one of the best nightlife places in Cancun. You can enjoy the spectacular shows and vibrant music. There is also a night show that starts at 9pm and goes on till 3 in the morning.
There are different ticket options to enter the club. All of which have been explained on our website, CancunVacationExperts. To your surprise, we also provide various tours for nightlife. Check out the different tier options on our Coco Bongo Nightlife Tour.
Day 3: Musa and Snorkelling
Musa is an underwater museum in Cancun and is one of the most underrated tourist attractions in the area. You can find over 470 statues deep in the sea. You can take a snorkelling tour to go down under and explore the beautiful pieces of architecture and art. Explore the history of Cancun in the museum. You could spend the first 2-3 hrs of your day 3 of your cancun itinerary here.
After visiting the museum, you could continue with your water activities and dedicate the rest of the day for the same. We offer various underwater tours back in Isla Mujeres, Holbox, and Isla Contoy to assist you in your vacation. You could swim with the majestic whale sharks here in the waters of Cancun.
The shark season in Cancun generally ranges from late May to mid September so it’s better to plan your Cancun itinerary around that time if you don’t want to miss out on the snorkelling experience. If you’re lucky, you might be swimming among hundreds of whale sharks. Check out our Shark Snorkel Tour to boost your planning.
You can also join the dolphins for a swim. Cancun has a program called the Royal Swim Program with three options to choose from depending on your preferences. Once again, we are ready to rescue you from the burden of research. We have a specially curated dolphin tour for you in Isla Mujeres as well.
After a tiring day in the water, you could head for dinner to Ryoshi. It is the perfect mix of fine dining and the best hangout place for tourists in Cancun. The cuisine is mainly Japanese with a savoury range of sushis and drinks to choose from.
Day 4: Tulum and Jungle Adventures
You might be debating if it is worth it to do a day trip from Cancun or should you just stay in Cancun. The answer is yes. If you have only 5 days accounted for in your Cancun itinerary, then it’s best to head to Tulum on Day 4. Tulum is situated 81 miles south of Cancun on the Yucatan Peninsula. If you don’t have a car, there are a lot of options available that will cover all of Tulum in one day, but our suggestion is to get a rental car.
After all the water activities, a well deserved break on the road is just what you might need. Once you reach Tulum, you could visit the Mayan ruins like El Castillo and the Temple of the Frescoes which reflect the history of Mexico. Explore the rich heritage of the Mayan civilization here. You could also head to the jungles of Tulum for some adrenaline pumping adventures.
The Yucatán Peninsula is home to at least 6,000 cenotes, so you’ll have plenty of activities to experience. The cenotes nearest to Cancun are located along the Ruta de Los Cenotes Puerto Morelos. Many cenotes also have ziplines. Another option you could choose is Valladolid. You could check out some of the activities available in the jungles on our tours page.
In contrast to Cancun, Tulum offers a calmer and blissful experience. You can head to a beach bonfire right around sunset. It is home to a number of yoga studios and holistic therapy centres. Lay back and enjoy the folk music. Tulum will prove to be the perfect blend of culture and fun.
If you have an extra day for your trip then we would suggest booking a night in a hotel on Tulum beach. If you are short on time, you could drive back to your hotel in Cancun by evening. You could also stop for a bite on the way back.
Day 5: Street Food Tour
On your last day, you would want to dedicate the entire day to Mexico’s mouth-watering food. The flavors practically come alive in your mouth with each bite. You could choose to take a local guide and stroll down the streets of Cancun.
We suggest you go on a taco tasting trip in Puerto Morelos and wash the tacos down with shots of some Mexican Tequila. After a heavy brunch, you could head back to the hotel and rest for a while.
In the evening, you can plan to head for a shopping spree at Malecon Americas shopping complex. It is an open-air shopping complex with big department stores. Opposite to that is the Malecon Tajamar lagoon so you can grab an ice cream and enjoy the view after which you could resume your partying by hitting the nightclubs.
Some of the options would be The City and Senor Frogs. Grab a beer or some tequila shots and enjoy some of the rowdy shows and music. Check out another one of our nighttime tours on our website.
A 2 Day Bonus
If you have 2 days extra to spend in Cancun, you could spend more time on the beaches and just really have your “me” time. You could choose from Playa Chac Mool, Playa Delfines, Playa Caracol, Playa Langosta, and Play Marlin. These beaches are all located beside the stretch of hotels at the Hotel Zone. There are numerous things to do in the Cancun Hotel Zone.
You could head down to The Surfin Burrito, another one of Cancun’s best bars. Watch the sun go down and enjoy the sparkling water hitting the coast. For a proper dinner, you could go to Fred’s or Taboo. They offer you the best seafood cuisine.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to get to Cancun?
One of the reasons Cancun is a tourist hub is because of its accessibility. If you’re travelling from the USA or Canada, it is a direct flight for about 5 hours. The Cancun International Airport is just 14 miles away from The Hotel Zone. It is advisable to pre-book your transportation. There are many tourists who travel by road as well. You can use Discover Cars if you want to use a rental car.
2. What is the best way to commute in Cancun?
The majority of hotels are located on The Hotel Zone which is about 32 minutes from the airport. It is not the best choice to go with an Uber. Renting a car would make your vacation a whole lot easier.
If you want to indulge in the roots of Mexican culture, you could opt for the public transport system. Cancun’s local bus system has connectivity throughout the area to all the major tourist attractions like the Hotel Zone, Boulevard Kukulcán (downtown), and Avenida Tulum.
3. When is the best time to visit Cancun?
Cancun is a year-round destination to visit. But there are certain seasons which you would find very pleasing. The best time to visit Cancun would be around December to April because it wouldn’t be as hot considering the tropical climate of Mexico.
Budget-wise, May through November would be the best time to visit because the hotels would be offering better deals. You can also still visit in July because you’ll be in the water most of the time so you wouldn’t have to worry about the heat too much.
